EARLY DETECTION AND TREATMENT OF PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY – THE KEY TO A CHILD’S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT

The normal age of puberty typically begins between 8–13 years in girls and 9–14 years in boys. However, in recent years, the age of puberty among Vietnamese children has become noticeably earlier, with some children showing signs of puberty before the age of 8 in girls and before 9 in boys.

This condition can significantly affect a child’s growth and long-term health. Therefore, timely treatment of precocious puberty is essential to prevent early maturation.

Precocious puberty may greatly impact a child’s physical development and future health. Early intervention helps children achieve their maximum height potential, stabilize their psychological well-being, and develop appropriately for their age.

👉 Let’s learn more about precocious puberty in children and appropriate treatment options with Dr. Lai Thi Bich Thuy, MD, Specialist Level I – Pediatrics, CarePlus Clinic System in the article below.

1️⃣ Signs of Precocious Puberty in Children

👧 In girls:
The most common early sign is breast development, followed by rapid height growth. In overweight or obese children, enlarged breast tissue may be mistaken for fat accumulation, which can lead parents to overlook early puberty signs.

👦 In boys:
Precocious puberty is often more difficult to detect because the first sign is an increase in testicular volume, followed later by other puberty signs such as body hair growth, voice deepening, and acne.

2️⃣ Causes of Precocious Puberty in Children

Most cases of precocious puberty in girls are idiopathic (occurring without a specific underlying disease) and are often associated with overweight and obesity.

A small number of cases may be caused by medical conditions, such as hormone-secreting tumors, or by exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) commonly found in cosmetics and personal care products. Examples include Diethyl phthalate, Triclosan, Dichlorophenol, Methyl paraben, and Propyl paraben, which may interfere with children’s hormonal development.

3️⃣ How Does Precocious Puberty Affect Children?

🦩 Impact on height:
Children with early puberty may grow rapidly at first, but their growth slows earlier than normal, which can lead to shorter adult height compared with peers.

🦩 Psychological impact:
Children may feel self-conscious or confused about their body changes, especially when compared with peers of the same age.

🦩 Increased risk of sexual abuse:
Children who mature physically earlier may face greater risks if they have not yet developed the awareness to protect themselves.

4️⃣ When Should Parents Take Their Child for Screening?

Parents should bring their child for medical evaluation as soon as early signs of puberty appear to ensure timely treatment:

For girls:

• Breast development (breast buds)

• Rapid height increase

• Appearance of pubic hair

• Signs occurring before age 8 or menstruation before 9.5–10 years old

For boys:

• Rapid enlargement of genital organs

• Pubic hair growth

• Voice deepening

• Rapid height increase before age 9

5️⃣ Diagnosis of Precocious Puberty in Children

If parents suspect signs of precocious puberty, they should bring the child to a pediatric specialist.

During the initial visit, the doctor will:

• Ask about the child’s symptoms and medical history

• Perform a physical examination

• Measure the child’s height and weight

To confirm the diagnosis, doctors may recommend several important tests such as:

• Abdominal ultrasound (uterus and ovaries in girls)

• Hormonal blood tests

• Bone age X-ray of the hand to assess skeletal development and predict the child’s future height.

6️⃣ Treatment of Precocious Puberty

Treatment depends on the underlying cause:

▪️ Limiting exposure to environmental risk factors, especially cosmetics or products containing hormone-like chemicals.

▪️ Surgical treatment in cases where precocious puberty is caused by tumors or structural abnormalities.

▪️ For central idiopathic precocious puberty: treatment with GnRH agonist medications, which suppress the brain signals that trigger puberty (the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis).
This method helps slow down the progression of puberty and has been proven effective and safe when monitored by specialists.

7️⃣ How to Prevent Precocious Puberty

▪️ Ensure a balanced diet to prevent childhood obesity.
▪️ Be cautious when using cosmetics or medications containing sex hormones for children.
▪️ Many parents believe that drinking milk causes early puberty, but this is a misconception. Currently, there is no scientific evidence showing that milk consumption causes precocious puberty. On the contrary, eliminating milk may lead to deficiencies in calcium and essential nutrients needed for immunity and height growth.

🏥 CarePlus International Clinics is currently a trusted medical provider in Ho Chi Minh City for the screening, consultation, and treatment of precocious puberty in children.

👩‍⚕ The Pediatrics Department at CarePlus, with doctors having over 15 years of experience, provides consultation and treatment for conditions related to endocrine and kidney diseases in children, including precocious puberty, growth delay, and nephrotic syndrome.

👉👉 [From only 650,000 VND] Learn more about the Precocious Puberty Consultation Package at CarePlus:
https://www.careplusvn.com/vi/kham-tu-van-day-thi-som